Glossary OT-Related Terms

End-of-Life Care- Care provided by an Occupational Therapistwhen a person is diagnosed with a severe health condition or rapidly declining health. This type of OT aims to guide the client in having as much independence as possible and provide education and support to family members. 

Medical Model- Focused on the diagnosis of a client instead of the client as a person. 

Re-entry program- provided to incarcerated individuals/groups so that they can enter society more quickly after release. These programs are either done during or after incarceration and may include relationship management, money management, job hunting skills, etc. 

Wellness- One's perception of their physical and psychological well-being and ability to change this factor. 

Health- When a person is in a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. Does not just mean the absence of disease.

Prior Authorization- Further evidence is required by an insurance company to provide coverage for a service or medication.

Subject Matter Expert- Someone who is seasoned in a field, and has many years of experience you may look to for advice or consulting on a case. 

Sensory Integration- Used to help people who have trouble with sensory processing by introducing them to stimulation that is repetitive and in a structured environment.

Implicit Bias- Making decisions based on an unconscious preference toward or against a particular person or group.

Malleability- The ability to change or adapt to a situation.

Best practice- a method used by the majority of practitioners because it has been researched and the conclusion that it is the practice that produces the most success for a particular area- population, diagnosis, activity, etc.

Growth Mindset- One's belief that they can continue to increase their ability to perform a task by continuing to learn and put in the effort. 

Rapport- The expression of the relationship between a practitioner and a client, bedside manner. 

Individualized Education Program- A collaborative program created for children with disabilities, in which OT staff, teachers, administrators, parents, and sometimes the child come together to discuss the child's needs and goals to devise a plan for the school year.

Inclusive Language- communication that focuses on our strengths and avoids using words and expressions that are biased, discriminatory, or imply negative stereotypes.

Stigma- A negative connotation associated with a specific quality or circumstance about a person or group.

Self-efficacy- A person's belief in their own abilities.

Ergonomics- The relationship between people and their working environment.

Human Activity Assistive Technology (HAAT) frame of reference- "The HAAT model proposes that the human, desired activity, assistive technology, and the context in which they are integrated must be considered for the design, selection, implementation, and evaluation of assistive technology" (Cook and Polgar, 2012).

Car Fit-"is an initiative that helps older adults understand the safety features of their car, while adjusting car components to fit their vehicle, and addressing any mobility concerns" (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], n.d.).

Cognitive remediation- behavioral intervention targeting problems with cognition (the mental ability to process and understand information and ideas) through the application of learning principles, with the ultimate goal of improving day-to-day community functioning.

Cognitive–behavioral therapy- a psycho-social intervention that aims to reduce symptoms of various mental health conditions, primarily depression and anxiety disorders.

Trauma-informed practice- a type of frame of reference that seeks to acknowledge the past experiences of clients that support healing and avoids retraumatization

Equity- Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome

Occupational deprivation- the condition of being prevented or precluded from participation and engagement in occupations of necessity, obligation, and choice.

Self-determination- free choice of one's own acts or states without external compulsion

Phenomenological study design- focuses on their unique experience of a subject to retrieve the most valuable and least distorted information about it. Therefore, the study must include open-ended questions, target focus groups that will provide answers, and the tools to analyze the results.

Minoritized populations- Racial and ethnic minority groups (see OMB Directive 15). People with lower socioeconomic status. Underserved rural communities. Sexual and gender minority groups.

Community reengagement- becoming involved with or interested in something again

Neurorehabilitation- a complex medical process that aims to aid recovery from a nervous system injury and to minimize and/or compensate for any functional alterations

Occupational science- discipline dedicated to studying humans as "doers" or "occupational beings." 

Occupational apartheid.- the segregation of groups of people through the restriction or denial of access to dignified and meaningful participation in occupations of daily life based on race, color, disability, national origin, age, gender, sexual preference, religion, political beliefs, status in society, or other characteristics.